February 20, 2026 Board Strategic Planning Retreat

The Gresham-Barlow School District held a Board Strategic Planning Retreat on February 20, 2026, focusing extensively on budget challenges, strategic planning, and board operations. The meeting included a detailed discussion of the district's financial outlook, highlighting rising costs in payroll, utilities, and insurance, alongside uncertain state and federal funding. The board reviewed reduction scenarios ranging from $7 million to $16 million, primarily impacting staffing, and discussed the timing and process for reduction-in-force (RIF) notifications. They also considered options for updating the district's strategic plan, including a potential consultant-assisted update with an estimated cost of $15,000, and discussed the procurement process for this work, including the possibility of issuing an RFP or RFQ. The board approved rescheduling budget committee meetings to April 29 and May 13 to better align with staffing and budget timelines. Additionally, the board conducted a self-assessment exercise to improve team functioning and discussed strategies for community engagement and transparent communication during budget reductions. The meeting concluded with a candidate interview debrief for a board vacancy, narrowing the selection to two candidates and setting the appointment for March 5, 2026.